Reticulated metal.



v PATENTED MAY 28 N. E. CLARK. RETIGULATBD METAL.

anmlmmm Q/Vi/bmeoo a 0 (3110mm QM process and the product.

UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT; RETICULATED METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented, May as, 1907.-

Application filed December 23.1905. Serial No. 293,052.

ticulated material.

The object is to construct a material for use in gratings, lathings, guards, grilles, lattice, etc, Where considerable strength is desired.

The invention consists in an improved Briefly, it may be said to comprise lancing or slitting a strip or sheet of metal, folding the strands along the lines of slits, and eX- panding or opening the slits in the direction of the original plane. The result is a product consisting of a series of pairs of strands, the strands of each pair being connected at intervals by bonds on one face of the material and the adjacent strands of adjacent pairs being connected in alternation by bonds on the other face of the material.

The drawings illustrate the slitted metal and the reticulated product.

Figure 1 shows a fragment of a slitted or lanced strip. Fig. 2 shows the same after reticulation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the plane of the line X-X Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the plane of the line Y Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section at a bond between two strands.

The metal strip may be lanced or slitted in any suitable manner alon the lines 1 and 2. The individual slits 3 0% one line being arranged alternating with the slits 4 of the other.

5 and 6 respectively are the bonds between slits 83 and 44. The strip of lanced metal may thus be said to consist of a series of strands 7 and 8 connected by alternating bonds.

The reticulated material may be formed from the lanced strip by folding the metal along-the lines of the bonds, and then opening the slits. The first line 1 of the bonds 5 is folded with the strands 7 and 8 down,

while the second line 2 of bonds 6 is folded up leaving the bonds 5 all onthc upper face of the material and carrying all of thebonds 6 to the lower face. Punches may then be entered into the already partially opened slits for the purposeof separating the strands and forming reticulations of the desired size and shape.

When the bonds are folded over, the metal is drawn down somewhat below the plane of if the edges of the strands, as seen in Fig. 5. For gratings and other uses when considerable wear takes place this is particularly advantageous since the bond will not be subjected to as great wear as the strands. The sides of the strands 7 and 8 are not necessarily drawn close together but may be left separated as shown, in Fig. 5. This subjects the metalto less internal stress. If

the strands are narrow relative to the size of the reticulating punches, then the strip will be-considerably expanded so that the area of the finished roduct is greater than that of the original strip. Conversely, if the strands are relatively wide, the product may even be narrower than the original strip. The strands being arranged on edge afford great strength to resist pressure at right angles to the plane of the material. The reticulating operation requires the application of only a small force, because the bending pressure is applied at right angles to the axis of the section of the strand which has the least moment of inertia. The strands may be bentinto any shape desired for ornamental or special purposes.

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention as a plied to a strip of metal lanced longitudinal y, expanded laterally and somewhat contracted or foreshortened longitudinally. This is the preferred method. The process may, however, be carried out by op eration on a strip lanced transversely instead.

When the product has been formed as shown, it may be rolled or ground to finish and smooth the edges and remove inequalities of formation, etc. The strands being brought substantially together and parallel adjacent the bonds, reinforce each other horizontally.' The u per and lower surfaces are substantially at and arallel to the original plane of the stock so t at it may be handled readily and produced in any length desired. Its great strength makes it useful under conditions to which the ordinary ex anded or recticulated metal is unequal. T e cost of construction is small so that the process may be carried on economically and without waste of material.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a reticulated material formed of sheet metal having strands arranged at right angles to the plane of the. material and connected by integral bonds adjacent to but slightly below the sur face. of said article.

2. As an article of manufacture, a reticulated material formed of sheet metal having strands arranged with their cut edges forming the upper and lower surfaces of the material connected at intervals by integral folded bonds adjacent to but slightly below the surface of said article.

3. As an article ofmanufacture, a reticulated material formed'of sheet metal having strips arranged at right angles to the plane of the material, connected at intervals by rows of intergal folded bonds arranged alternately on opposite sides of the material said bonds being adjacent to but slightly below the surfaces of said article.

4. As an article of manufacture, a reticulated material formed of sheet metal having strips arranged at right angles to the plane of the material, connected at intervals by rows of intergal folded bonds arranged alternately on opposite sides of the material and below the surfaces thereof.

5. As an article of manufacture, a reticulated material formed of sheet metal having strands substantially at right angles to the plane of the material, with openings between them, and connected at intervals by an integral arched portion the crown of the arch being below the surface of the article.

6. A plate of material formed of sheet metal having strands arranged with their flat edges forming the upper and lower surfaces of the plate or material, connected at inter vals by integral folded portions and spared apart between the connections to form openings the fold being below the bearing surface of the article.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK. Witnesses:

L. VREELAND, ROBT. S. ALLYN. 

